Escutcheon for handles and the like



July 15, 1941. e. E. DEY 2,249,272

ESCUTCHECN FOR HANDLES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. '25, 1940 ill? 7 Z5 Z7INVENTOR.

6e0/7e 7E, Bey

Patented July 15, 1941 George E. pa, GrandRapi-ds, Mich., assignor to W.B. Jarvisjcompajny, Grand Rapids, Mich.,

a corporation of Michigan 7 Application December 23, 1940, Serial No.371,271

'19 Claims. (01. 292-357) This invention relates to improvements in es--cutcheons for handlesand the like. 9

The main objects of this invention are:'

First, to provide an improvedescutcheon unit for door handleand othersimilar-hardware Second, to provide an escutcheon 'or similar unitadapted to greatly facilitate the assembly of a door operating handle on.a spindle 'controlled thereby, the escutcheon or like unit beingexceedingly simple and inexpensive of construction and highly attractivein appearance.

Third, to provide a telescoping depressible escutcheon structure whichgreatly facilitates the assembly of a handle on a door control or otherspindle without necessitating a. depressible or:

yieldable 'door panel.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will .appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are i1' lustrated in theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a handle and escutcheon therefor in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in central section illustratingdetails of construction and arrangement of the coacting' escutcheon andhandle parts shown inFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a'fragmentary view in central section illustrating theescutcheon and handle structure 1 of Fig. '2, with the parts of theescutcheon in collapsed position to permitthe insertion or re-.moval'ofthe handle retaining pin. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of theescutcheon unit.

Figs. 5 and 6 are views in central section illus- 1 trating escutcheonsin accordance with further modified embodimentsofthe invention.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of still another modified form orembodiment-of my invention. 7

This invention relates to escutcheon; assemblies for handles or. otheroperating hardware of automobiles and the like, and inparticularto anassembly of the type described which is very; com pact "and inexpensivein construction, which. enables the ready'and quick assembly of thebandle or other operating member on a spindle controlled thereby, alsothe mam'pulat'ion of theescutcheon to exposea locking .pin whenit isfde-q sired to'removethe handle." I

'Referring to the drawing, in Figs. .1 t 4. I illustrate an escutcheonwith the preferred embodiinent of my invention, Referencenunieral-J l ingeneral indicates the escutcheon and refalfr; ence'numerarz a handleassociated therewith and adapted to be connected to a door latch orother member operating spindle 3 of non-circular section 'by'means of apin 3!. This pin is engageable with a transverse hole 4 in the spindleand -a coacting transverse hole in the shank 5 of the handle, which is"brought into alinement with the spindlehole when the spindle isinserted throughan opening 6 in the door-panel 1 or other support andinto a non-circular openingS in the handle shank. s

The escutcheon I is a telescoping collapsible structure enabling thecoacting pinreceiving holes of the spindle and handle shank to beexposedto give access for the insertion of the pin in assembling the parts, orin removing the handle relative to the spindle. The escutcheon.structure is clearly illustrated in Figs, 2, 3 and 4 and consists of anopen dished or cupped circular base stamping .9 having the upturnedannular rimllll and a central opening l l which is alined with. .thepanel opening 6 in assembling thees cutcheon. Coacting with the base 9is the dished annular top escutcheon member 12 having the downturnedannular flange 13 in external telescoping engagement or association withflange Ill. The two telescoped parts receive .and .house a conical coilcompression spring M, the upper or top escutcheon member l2 havinga=central1 opening l5 engageable externally on or receiving.

the handle shank 5 and provided with the inturned annular lip IE orflange defining the shank engaging opening. In the preferred embodiment,

relation to the .top escutcheon member. The bottom .escutcheon member 9has tabs or lugs I! struck up therefrom in spaced relation to the flangeID to receive and locate, and, if desired,

to lockingly position the bottom coil of the spring,

thereby controlling the parts as .a ,unit.

In assembling the handle andes'cutcheon struc ture, escutcheon I isplaced over the spindle 3 trated in Fig. 3.

Afterthis, the escutcheon i." ;released to permit the spring to' urge.the top member I 2 into its final operative relation to the handleconcealing the locking pin. It should be noted that the above describedtelescoping and collapsible escutcheon assembly does away with the needfor relying on a depressible upholstery panel such as has been employedin many heretofore known structures. The parts thereof are simple,inexpensive, and self-contained and greatly facilitate the handleassembly operation.

In Fig. 5 I illustrate a somewhat modified embodiment of my inventionwherein a molded plastic composition, colored in any desired manner, isemployed for the top annular dished member of the unit, here designatedby the reference numeral I8. Elements of that type may be produced insuch plastics in-a number of attractive color eiTects or finishes toblend with any interior hardware or decorative color scheme or claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An escutcheon unit for automobile door handles and the like having atelescoping spindle and handle shank, comprising a dished base memberhaving an annular upturned flange and an axial aperture for receivingthe spindle, an outer dished escutcheon member having an annular flangeexternally telescopingly engageable with the base member flange and acentrally flanged opening concentric with the base member opening totelescope on the handle, and a coil spring disposed internally of saidmembers and concentrically thereof, one of theend coils thereof beingsmaller than the other and in lateral gripping engagement with thecentral flange of the escutcheon arrangement. In such a moldedconstruction the 7 upper member is provided with a central annularcylindrically flanged opening for the reception of the handle shank, theupper coil of the spring l9 being preferably made slightly smaller indiameter than the flange of this opening, or distorted to a slightlyout-of-round condition to assure a gripping action maintaining thespring and escutcheon top part in desired relation and therebyfacilitating their assembly. The lower annular dished half 2| of thisembodiment, illustrated as a stamping, receives the enlarged lower coilof the spring and is provided with an indentation 22 for engaging andlocking the said coil in place, thereby constituting the escutcheon aunit. Manipulation of the unit in assembling or removing the handle isthe same embodiment of Figsl to 4. g s

In Fig. 6 I illustrate a further embodiment of my invention wherein anornamental base 23 of molded plastic isemployed. this base being provided with a central shouldered opening 24 serv- 7 ing as an abutmentfor the lower coil of the spring 25. The upper or ton escutcheon member26, that is, the annular flange 2'! thereof, is telescopingly receivedin the enlarged portion of ,the opening, and the upper coil of thespring is grippingly received by thefdownwardly and outwardly curvedflange 2 3 defining the central handle shank receiving opening.

In the embodiment showninFig. '7 the base member 28 is provided with aninturned flange 29 surrounding the s indle opening thereof, this flangebeing shaped like the inturned flange 1 6 of the top member 12. Thecoils of the spring 3!) are of dimensions uniform with the bottom coilen aged with the flange 29, th same as the top coil is engaged with theflange l5.

In all of theforegoing structures, a unitary escutcheon is providedwhich is exceedingly compact in'nature and economical in its parts.Assembly of the same with a handle on a door panel in operative relationto an operating spindle is greatly facilitated by the depressibleoperation of the escutcheon and many. very attractive ornamental efiects may be produced suitable for almost any conceivable interior orexterior decorative scheme. I

I have illustrated and described my invention in embodiments which arevery practical. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe otherembodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure willenable'those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements asmay be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I as in the member and axiallyabutting the escutcheon member, and the opposite coil abutting and beingclampingly positioned by the base member, said members and spring beingsecured together as a unit'by said gripping engagement and clampingpositioning, and the members being relatively collapsible inoppositionto said spring to expose a portion of said handle normally coveredthereby to view, means locking the handle and spindle together when thespindle and handle shank are in telescoped engagement;

2. An escutcheon unit for automobile door handles' and the like,comprising a dished base member having an annular upturned flange and anaxial aperture for receiving a handle-operated spindle, anouter dishedescutcheon member having an annular flange externally telescopinglyengageable with the base member flange, and a centrally flanged openingconcentric with the base member opening to telescope'on the handle, anda coil spring disposed internally of said members and concentricallythereof, one of the end coils'thereof being in lateral grippingengagement with the central flange of the escutcheon member and axiallyabutting the escutcheon member, and the opposite coil abutting the basemember, whereby said escutcheon and base members are secured in unitaryrelation by said spring, said members beingrelatively collapsiblein'opposition to said spring to expose a portion of said handle normallycovered thereby to view.

3. An escutcheon unit for automobile door handles and the like,comprising a dished base member having an annular upturned flange and anaxial aperture for receiving a handle-operated spindle, an outer dishedescutcheon member having an annular flange telescopingly engageable withthe base' member flange and a centrally flanged opening concentric withthe base memberopeni'ng to telescope on the handle, and a coil springdisposed internally of said members and concentrically thereof, one ofthe end coils thereof axially abutting the escutcheon member and theopposite coil abuttingthe base member, said spring having securingengagement with said escutcheon and base members to secure the sametogether as' a unit, said members being relatively collapsible inopposition to said spring to expose a portion of said handle normallycovered therebytoview. V

4. In combination, with a spindle and a handle telescoped thereon andadapted to receive a locking key, an escutcheon. unit for said handleassociated betweenthe sameand a backing panel,

comprising a dished base member adjacent. the.

panel and provided with an annular out-turned flange, and a coil springdisposed in said members and in thrust transmitting relation thereto, tourge same for axial abutting engagement with the panel and handlerespectively, said members having concentric alined apertures for thereception of the spindle and handle, and means integral therewith forsecuring said coil spring to said members to constitute the members andspring a unit, said members being relatively collapsible axially toexpose said handle for access to the key.

5. In combination with a spindle and a handle telescoped thereon andadapted to receive a looking key, an escutcheon unit for said handleassociated between the same and a backing panel, comprising a dishedbase member adjacent the panel and provided with an annular out-turnedflange, a top member normally concealing said key and having an annularinturned flange telescopingly engageable with said base member flange,and a coil spring disposed in said members and in thrust transmittingrelation thereto, to urge the same for axial abutting engagement withthe panel and handle respectively, said members having concentric alinedapertures for the reception of the spindle and handle, and meansintegral with at least one of said members for securing said coil springthereto, the spring being grippingly secured to the other member toconnect the members in unitary relation, said members being relativelycollapsible axially to expose said handle for access to the key.

6. In combination with a spindle and a handle telescoped thereon andadapted to receive a looking key, an escutcheon unit for said handleassociated between the same and a backing panel, comprising a dishedbase member adjacent the panel and provided with an annular out-turnedflange, a top member normally concealing said key and having an annularinturned flange telescopingly engageable with said base member flange,and a coil spring disposed in said members and in thrust transmittingrelation thereto, to urge the same for axial abutting engagement withthe panel and handle respectively, said members having concentric alinedapertures for the reception of the spindle and handle and said springbeing restrainingly connected at its ends to said respective members toconnect the same in unitary relation, said members being relativelycollapsible axially to expose said handle for access to the key.

7. A collapsible escutcheon assembly for door handles, remote controlhandles and the like comprising facing cupped base and top membershaving telescoping engagement, the top member being provided with acentral opening adapted to receive the shank of a handle and having aninturned curved flange, and a conical coiled spring, the smaller outercoil of which is in clutching engagement with said flange of said topmember, the larger inner coil of which is seated within the flange ofthe cupped base member, said cupped base member having lugs retaininglyengaging said inner coil whereby the spring acts to retain theescutcheon members in assembled relation and permits the collapsingthereof.

8. A collapsible escutcheon assembly for door handles, remote controlhandles and the like comprising a base and top members havingtelescoping engagement, the top member being provided with a centralopening adapted to receive the shank of a handle and having an inturnedflange, and a conical coiled spring, the smaller outer coil of which isin retaining engagement with said flange of said top member, the largerinner coil of which is seated within the base member, said cupped basemember having retaining means engaging said inner coil whereby thespring acts to retain the escutcheon members in assembled relation.

9. A collapsible escutcheon assembly for door handles, remote controlhandles and the like comprising a base and top members havingtelescoping engagement, the top member being provided with a centralopening adapted to receive the shank of a handle and having an inturnedflange, and a coiled spring, the outer coil of which is in retainingengagement with said flange of said top member, the inner coil of whichis seated within the base member, said cupped base member havingretaining means engaging said inner coil, whereby said members andspring are se cured together in unitary assembled relation.

10. A collapsible escutcheon assembly for handles and the likecomprising a base and top members having telescoping engagement, the topmember being provided with a central spindle receiving opening, and acoiled spring, the outer coil 01 which is in retaining engagement withsaid flange of said outer member, the inner coil of which is retaininglyengaged with said base member whereby the spring acts to retain theescutcheon members in assembled relation and permits the collapsingthereof.

GEORGE E. DEY.

